Tricky eater (live)

[dadykhoff]

So I've had my '10 spider ball for a while now (going on 3 months) and am having some troubles with her feeding. The first time I tried to feed her she fed on 2 adult mice just fine. I've also fed her small rats (also live). She then began fasting, not eating for just over a month. I finally got her to get down another adult mouse, but she seems to be back on fast mode.

My husbandry is fine as far as I know:

Ambient: 82-84F
Cool side: ~82F
Hot side: ~92F
Humidity: 53-62%

So now I'm not exactly sure if there is a 'proper' way to feed live but what I've been doing is removing all the hides from the tank and just throwing the mouse/rat in and supervising. What really strikes me as odd is that she has been known to approach a mouse which is sitting in the corner of the tank, smell it, and then slither away.

Ideas?

Edit: Forgot to mention that she hasn't lost any weight so I'm not too worried, but I would much rather have her be a regular feeder.

[snakesRkewl]

I have a photo that aptly describes what your saying and shows how funny the snakes can be when they aren't hungry...This rat did not get eaten that night by this snake


The actions you describe are pretty common for a snake that isn't interested in eating, I'd let her go a full week and then offer her a small mouse and once she starts back eating again continue to feed small/medium mice and if you can adjust your feeding schedule to every 5 days and see if she continues to eat better for you.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

I have a photo that aptly describes what your saying and shows how funny the snakes can be when they aren't hungry...This rat did not get eaten that night by this snake


The actions you describe are pretty common for a snake that isn't interested in eating, I'd let her go a full week and then offer her a small mouse and once she starts back eating again continue to feed small/medium mice and if you can adjust your feeding schedule to every 5 days and see if she continues to eat better for you.

Now how could you feed a sweet little dumbo off lol. Just kidding... Although I do admit when picking out feeders the dumbos are the last to get picked. Lol

To the OP, it's a pretty common thing for BP to go off feed. Actually I can pretty much say with confidence that if you have BPs at one point in there life they will go off feed. Follow the great advice given by the above member and she should be fine.

[dadykhoff]

Okay thank you.

So when feeding live is it best to just put the mouse in and leave everything as is? Or should I keep removing the hides? Also, if the mouse and snake are in a "standoff" (as in sitting on opposite ends of the tank without moving for an extended period of time) should I intervene?

[thomasK]

you could try to leave as much as possible in there next time you feed youre BP. Maybe it stresses her a bit when removing everything. And then after the fast mode just do like you where doing before and take the hides etc. out again.

I would not try to get the mouse or snake moving again. Could cause stress and making her not eating at all, even if she was tending to maybe get a bite when it gets closer... Or she could mistake you're hand for the mouse, wich wouldn't be all that comfortable either not?

They just have a bit off there own mind when it comes to dinner time

[snakesRkewl]

Now how could you feed a sweet little dumbo off lol. Just kidding... Although I do admit when picking out feeders the dumbos are the last to get picked. Lol

All I make is dumbo rats, I haven't had top eared rats for 2 years now

OP: I wouldn't move anything, the snakes that I have that do have hides tend to hunt from those hides striking the rat as it meanders by